We Are Learning Heaven

Hola hola todos!

I hope that you all had an amazing week!

Last week, we visited a family in our ward that has been inactive for a little while. They had recently been struggling with some health problems and other issues. Elder and Hermana Gonzalez, the senior missionary couple in our ward, came to the visit with us so that Elder Gonzalez could give each family member a blessing. This family also asked Elder Gonzalez to bless their apartment. He first blessed the apartment then blessed each one of the four people in the house. The blessings were amazing and so personal to each one of them. Elder Gonzalez didn’t even know the family but blessed them with things that they have been needing in their lives. The Spirit in the room was undeniably strong and we all knew that each blessing truly was from God. There was an incredible amount of peace in the room like I had never felt before. I know that the Priesthood is the power of God. It is amazing that this power is on earth today and that the men who hold it are able to use it to bless others as Christ did.

After leaving this visit, we got a text from one of our ward leaders. He said that Jazmín, a lady who is married to a member of our ward but isn't a member herself, is wanting to be baptized and wants us to start visiting her! We texted her and set up a visit for the next day. During the visit, we talked more about baptism and invited her to be baptized on October 7th. She said yes and is super excited to be baptized! Jazmín's husband is named Luis. When I first came to this area, we visited Jazmín and Luis so that I could start getting to know the ward members. During the visit, Luis told us that he was baptized in Costa Rica by the mission president at the time. The mission president's name was Randy. At the time of his baptism, Luis had plans to move to Arizona and knew that Randy would be returning home to Idaho not long after. Randy told Luis that they would meet up sometime when they both got to the U.S., but they ended up losing contact. Luis had been trying to find Randy for years. He told us that Randy had been a professor at BYU. I knew that since he was a professor, we would be able to find his contact information online. Luis gave me Randy's full name and I reached out to my family to see if they could find him on the list of BYU professors. Sure enough, he came right up! I gave my family Luis' contact information then they gave it to BYU to give to Randy. About a week later, Luis came up to me at church and said that he had been in contact with Randy. He was so happy! It was amazing that God was able to use my family and me to help Luis and Randy get back in contact with each other. 

The husband of one of our friends joined us for our lesson a couple of weeks ago. He had a bunch of questions about different commandments and didn’t seem too pleased with some of our answers. He asked what we believe happens to people who don't learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ while they are on earth. We explained that these people will have the opportunity to learn about and accept the Gospel after they die. He then said "well, I'm good then. I don't need to talk to you." Last week, I listened to a BYU Devotional by Brad Wilcox titled His Grace is Sufficient. As I was listening, I thought about this lesson that we had. In his devotional, Brother Wilcox says "the miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can be cleansed and consoled but that we can be transformed. Scriptures make it clear that no unclean thing can dwell with God, but, brothers and sisters, no unchanged thing will even want to." Brother Wilcox goes on to say "I have born-again Christian friends who say to me, 'You all are trying to earn your way to heaven.' I say, 'No, we are not earning heaven. We are learning heaven. We are preparing for it. We are practicing for it.'" If we do not have righteous desires on earth, we will not all of the sudden become righteous when we see God's face on Judgement Day. I invite you all to listen to this devotional by Brad Wilcox and choose now to prepare yourselves for Heaven. Now is the time. Don't wait. I know that Heavenely Father and Jesus Christ love you. I know that Jesus Christ suffered and died for each one of us so that we can change to become more like Him. I know that our life on earth is the time that we have been given to prepare for Heaven. This time is precious. I bear my testimony to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

I love you all!

Con Amor,
Hermana Kendrick

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